NOTEBOOK Australian Open

Center stage: WTA Tour chairman Larry Scott says the injuries to the Williams sisters opened the way for Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters. "It's given a chance for Justine and Kim to come into their own, to become more comfortable in how they handle themselves, the media and sponsors," Scott said. Henin-Hardenne and Clijsters play in the women's final Saturday. It will be the Belgians' third Grand Slam final in nine months. Scott, a former chief operating officer for the ATP Tour, has been on his new job eight months. The Williams sisters have sidelined most of that time -- Serena by an ailing knee, Venus by a strained abdomen. "Maybe I'm a jinx," said Scott, joking.
Scouting: To improve her game, Henin-Hardenne watches the men. In particular, Andre Agassi and David Nalbandian. "I don't wish to offend the other women players on the circuit, but I learn more by watching the men play than I do watching the girls," Henin-Hardenne said. "You can't compare the two and I am not too shy to say that." She added that the men might enjoy watching the women play, "but are far too macho to say so."
Safin's plans: Marat Safin will play for Russia in the first round of the Davis Cup against Belarus next month. Mikhail Youzhny, Nikolay Davydenko and Igor Andreev were also chosen Thursday to face the Belarus team of Max Mirnyi, Vladimir Voltchkov, Alexander Shvec and Andrei Karatchenia. The matches are Feb. 6-8 in Minsk.
-- Associated Press